Topband: Vertical dipoles in the real world

[Tom W8JI]

> A ringo ranger is a vertical half wave using "end feed" and they work
> great.  I prefer end feeding, using hte method of the ringo (which is
> easy to scale to other bands).  I purchased the 10 meter version some
> years back and built ones for all bands to 20 meters by scaling the
> end-feed arrangement.

When we end-feed a vertical like that, without radials, the system can have 
as much radiating current on the mast and feedline as the vertical itself 
has. This can do all sorts of things to the pattern and gain, because the 
feedline and mast become a major part of the actual antenna.

There is a basic electrical rule that cannot be broken. In order to force 
current up into the vertical at the feedpoint, an EQUAL current has to flow 
back down into the coax shield, the mast, radials, or something else.

We are kidding ourselves if we look at an end-fed antenna without a ground 
system and proper feed isolation and assume only the vertical is the 
radiator.

This is why, later in the Ringo's life, Cushcraft added a kit that added 
radials to the Ringo.

73 Tom